Electric time-switch.



No. 765,281. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

J. DILHAN & E. DB MERSANNE.

ELEGTRIG TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION IILED AUG. 27, 1903.

no MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WWW

No, 755,281. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

' J. DILHAN & E. DE MBRSANNE.

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

"H W I No. 755,281. PATENTBD MAR. 22, 1904. J. DILHAN & B. DE MERSANNE. ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1903.

4 SHEETSSHEIJT 3.

wwmm Mm .94 W Qmw/W WW No. 755,281. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904. J. DILHA-N & E. DE MERSANNE.

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED we. 27, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' WiZneSses J Ina/anions QM? J rh a UNITED STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC TIME-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Paten N0. 755,281, dated March 22, 1904;.

Application filed August 2'7, 1903. Serial No. 170,935. (No model.)

To CLZZ who/m 2'1; vntty cmwern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH DILHAN and ERNEST DE MEEsANNE, citizens of France, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Open-Gas-Jet-Relighting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improved automatic open-gas-jet-relighting apparatus, the object of our invention being to provide an apparatus which will light gas escaping from a jet accidentally left open or reopened after the flame has been extinguished, so as to avoid the danger of asphyxiation from gas so escaping.

Our invention therefore resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts for the above ends hereinafter fully specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims. A

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is aplan view of our improved apparatus, certain parts being broken away and the gasjets being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, parts being broken away. Fig. 8 is a side view of a portion of the apparatus. Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of one of the tally-lamps. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a disk in said tally-lamp. Fig. 6 is a view, partly diagrammatic, of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 7 is a view showing the gas-jets.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents an ordinary clock mechanism, onto the shaft 2 of the hour-hand of which, making one revolution in twelve hours, is secured a gear wheel 3, meshing with a pinion 4: on a shaft 5, carrying another pinion 6, meshing with a gearwheel 7 on a tubular shaft 8 on the shaft 2, the wheels 3 1 6 7 being so proportioned that the wheel 7 revolves once in twenty-four hours. Said tubular shaft 8 also carries an internal gear-wheel 9, meshing with a pinion 10, of one-twelfth the diameter of the wheel 9, said pinion 10 again carrying an intermediate wheel 11, which makes one revolution in one hour. The wheel 11 meshes with a pinion 12,

of one-twelfth its diameter, said pinion 12 be ing on the shaft13 of a drum 14, thus causing said drum to revolve once every live minutes. The drum 1d has a head 15, of hard rubber, on whichare provided ten equidistant cam-plates 16. The body of the drum 1 1 is made up of ten rings 17, of uniform diameter, slightly exceeding that of the head 15 and compactly joined together side by side, said rings being made of hard rubber. On each of these rings is attached a somewhat long cam-plate 18, said cams being arranged upon the drum in a spiral making one revolution around the periphery of the drum for the whole ten cams. Each of the cams 18 is in substantially axial alinement with one of the cams 16 on the drumhead.

Each of the cams 16 in turn bears upon an arm 19, projecting from a lever 20, fulcrumed at 21 upon a standard 22. On the rear end of said lever is a spring23, to which is attached a platinum needle 24:, which plunges in a vessel 25, containing mercury. It may be here stated that the object of this arrangement is to provide a succession of contacts between the needle and the mercury, this being accomplished when the cam 16 leaves the end of the lever 20, said end suddenly springing upward and the platinum needle carried by the spring moving downward, but reciprocating up and down for a considerable number of times. In order, however, to limit the number of such reciprocations, there is provided a peg 26, of wood, bone, hard rubber, or other nonconductive substance, which is attached close to the platinum needle. This non-conductive peg is always partly immersed in the mercury, and by thus burdeningthe plunger of the platinum needle the vibrations of the spring are controlled according to the extent in which the peg is immersed in the mercury. As will be seen on further description of the apparatus, it is the contact of this platinum needle with the mercury which furnishes a succession of sparks for each gas-jet, causing it to be relighted should there be an escape of gas therefrom.

To the large wheel 9 is attached a ring 28,

provided with twenty-four holes 29, in two of which are selectively placed pegs 30. In front of said wheel 9, but spaced therefrom, is a square block 31, revolving on a shaft 32, having a bearing 33 fixedly secured upon a bracket 3 k to the frame. On two opposite faces 35 of this block are earns 36. The block also has secured thereto four arms 37-one on each of its edges. A spring 39 engages each face of the block in its turn and holds it in position at each quarter-turn of the block.

40 represents a curved rod attached at its inner end to a washer 11, loosely mounted on the shaft 8 of the wheel 9. This rod 10 rests in one of two grooves 13, formed in the two faces of the block, which have no cam; but when the block is turned, so as to bring one of the cams to the upper side thereof, then the lever rests upon the cam and is raised by each cam as the cam rises. To the outer end of this rod 10 is attached a silk thread 4 1, the lower end of which is attached to a rigid arm 45, extending from the rear end of the lever 20. Thus as the block turns and brings one of the cams to the upper side thereof it raises said lever, and thus also raises the platinum needle out of contact with the mercury.

Let it be supposed that two pegs have been inserted in two of the twenty-four holes made for this purpose, six holes apart. Then, supposing the wheel 9 to be moving, when the first meets one of the arms 37 it will cause the block 31 to revolve. One of the cams 36 will commence to rise and will raise the rod 40 until the edge of the block 31 shall have passed the middle of its course. Then the spring 39 will furnish the power necessary to turn the block until the cam reaches its highest position. The needle 2 1 and lever 20 of the shaker will also have attained their highest positions, while the arm 19 will have reached its lowest point, hence being out of possible contact with the cams of the drumhead. Thus the plunger can no longer reach the mercury. The drum will still be moving, but inefl'ectua'lly, for the electric working of the apparatus will be suspended. When after a certain number of hours dependent upon the position of the second'peg this peg meets an arm 37 of the block, the cam 36, which was in its highest position, will now gradually fall back to its horizontal position and will beheld by the spring 39 engaging the block, the rod will have descended and will be resting upon the face of the block, the rear arm of the lever 20 will also have descended, and the platinum needle will have approached the surface of the mercury without touching it, the peg 2-6, however, dipping into it somewhat, and the arm 19 having risen will now rub against the drumhead. In this position the apparatus is ready to perform its function of relighting the gas-jets. Each one of the ten cams 16, bearing in turn upon the arm 19, will gradually lower it and will then let it escape suddenly, and thus communicate to it a violent shake, which causing the spring to vibrate will immerse the platinum needle in the mercury several times.

With each immersion the current from the battery 16 to the induction-coil 47 will be started, and the interruptions of this current will produce corresponding interruptions in the induced current, which again will produce successive sparks for relighting the gasjets by means of the ten camson the drum, as will now be explained. Beneath the path of each of said cams .is fixed a springy copper blade 49, which normally is raised and bears tangentially against the drum. The revolving cam 18, corresponding to each blade, will in the revolution of the drum bend the blade 49, so as to extend it flat upon the insulatingblock 50, which serves as its bearing. In this position said blade closes a contact between, on one side, a metallic cross-piece 51, which serves the same purpose forall of the blades in succession and is connected with a binding-post 52 at the side of the frame, and on the other side a fixed copper blade 53, all of said blades 53 being insulated from each other. Each of these fixed blades is connected with a wire 54, having ten breaks therein, each break being in close proximity to a gas-jet. The wire then returns to the other end of the secondary coil 17 of the induction apparatus. As stated, each of the fixed blades 53 is connected to a wire carried in proximity to ten such jets, sothat the ten blades take care of one hundred jets of gas.

Supposing then that the drum is revolving and one of the cams 18 presses the springy blade 19 down so as to close the circuit of the secondary coil except for the ten small breaks in proximity to the gas-jets, it will readily be seen that on account of the cams 16 being in substantial alinement with the cams 18 if while this circuit is thus substantially closed the cam 16 escapes from the lever, causing the other end of said lever and the platinum needle to vibrate violently and causing in succession a number of breaks and closures in the primaryinduction-coil, the secondary coil being now closed except for the breaks at the corresponding series of gas-jets, sparks will be formed at each of said gas-jets which will cause the gas to be lighted thereat if any is escaping.

To remain within safe limits, we should perinit that with an induction-coil emitting oneinch sparks there should be no more than ten gas-jets in the circuit of the induced current, and since of the ten cams upon the drum each in turn by pressing upon its springy blade closes an independent secondary circuit it will be evident that, during one revolution of the drum--that is, in five minutes-the ten cams will in succession cause one hundred sparks to take place adjacent to the correspond- IIO ing gas-jets, ten sparks at a time. It is evident that the number of the jets in each series may be varied, as also the number of series.

The object of using the cross-piece 51 connected with the binding-post 52 instead of connecting each springy copper blade 49 permanently with said binding-post is that if the latter constructionwere used and should a contact accidentally occur between the circuits of two different series a spark might flash up between the fixed blades 53 when one of the springy blades 49 is in contact, on account of the close proximity of the fixed blades 53, caused by the small size of the apparatus, and thus a confusion of lighting in two or more series might result. With the present construction the cross-piece 51 leaves completely out of the induced circuit all the springy blades 49 except the one that has been brought into contact with it. This happens only when said blade 49 is fully laid down upon the insulatingblock 50, for as soon as it springs back the contact ceases. In this way at no time is there more than one springy blade 49 in the induced circuit, even though an accidental contact should occur in the wires of the series.

Instead of relighting by means of sparks from an induction-coil the relighting can also be effected with a sparking coil. 111 this case it is preferable to arrange the broken bridgecircuits adjacent to the gas-jets parallel with each other in the circuit through the corresponding fixed blade 53, as shown at 63, instead of in series therethrough, as with the induction-coil.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated what we call a tallyla'mp for indicating whether the apparatus is properly working. It is preferably formed with a glass globe or mica cylinder or cone 66, acting as a chimney to an ordinary gas-jet 67. The admission of air is regulated by an ordinary means needless to indicate. The globe is topped by a metallic cylinder 68, which carries about half-way up a thick iron or brass washer 69, having several holes 7 0 therethrough. Above this is a resistance wirescreen 71, of about sixteen holes per square centimeter. The object of a washer is to ab stract the heat and conduct it to the cool metallic surface of the cylinder 68, to which it is attached, and thereby to eifectively protect the screen 71 from rapid destruction. To the cylinder 68 is attached a metallic cone 7 2, supplied with a burner 73, consisting of a ring covered with a'wire screen 74, similar to the one below. A chimney 75, of wire-gauze, is hinged at one side and can be easily tilted. At the sides of the globe are two holes 76, through which pass wires 54, which nearly but not quite meet together close to the escape of the gas from the gas-jet 67. These wires are in the circuit of the wire passing through a series of ten jets, making an eleventh if the tally-lamp is included. To shut the lamp out of the circuit, it is only necessary to hang up the chain 78, suspended from one bracket 79 to the opposite bracket. Gas is brought in through a pipe 80, secured in a clamp 81, screwed on the block 50 of the relighter, and to this pipe is connected, as shown at 82, the lamp-jet. As soon as the relighter is set in motion the gas-cock 83 is opened and gas will flow to the upper burner 73 and be lighted by hand. When the induced current of the induction-coil is passing through the circuit of the series connected with this tally-lamp, a spark will appear in the gas-jet of the globe and the lower burner 67 will be lighted, while the upper burner 7 3 will go out. The successful lighting of the tally-lamp is a proof that the induced current has circulated through the series to which belongs the lamp. It is, however, no proof that all jets have been relighted. It may happen that for some cause as excess of pressure, obstruction of the screen '71, &c.the flow of gas in the lamp may be greater than can be disposed of by the burner 7 3 and that the excess will escape through the lower opening and flowing upward along the globe will catch fire. No serious danger need be apprehended, for the lighting of the inner burner would at once dispose of that excess, and besides the stopcock 88 may be at once shut off. This inconvenience may, however, be remedied in the following manner: A second stop-cock 84, set in front of the stop-cock 83, allows gas to pass through a rubber tube 85 to another small tube 86 at the upper burner. Before opening the stop-cock 88 the stop-cock 84: is opened, allowing a very small supply of gas to flow out, just enough to supply a small flame. The wire cone 72 is then moved down into place and the process goes on as before. The stop-cock 83 is open, and gas escaping through the upper burner will light at the small flame at 86. Then the stop-cock 84% is shut off. As soon as the lower lamp 67 is lighted the lamp has accomplished its purpose and it is now no longer necessary to let it burn, and the stop-cock 83 is shut off.

The upper part of the lamp with its wiregauze cone acts as a Davy lamp, and the flame of the upper burner cannot set fire to any leaking gas that may occur.

It will be understood that there will be one tally-lamp for each series of jets. While the tally-lamps will not afford an absolute guarantee that the jets are relighted, yet they will furnish useful indications in singling out the points needing attention in any disturbances.

We claim- 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of groups of gas-jets, a plurality of wires, each having'a number of breaks therein, adjacent to corresponding gasjets, means for introducing the wires in succession into an electric circuit, and means for starting and stopping an electric current in said circuit, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of groups of gas-jets, a plurality of wires, each having a number of breaks therein, adjacent to corresponding gasjets, means for introducing the wires in succession into an electric circuit, and means for rapidly starting and stopping a number of times in succession an electric current in said circuit, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires, each having a break adjacent to a gas-jet, means for introducing each wire in succession into an electric circuit, and means for starting and stopping an electric current in each circuit so formed, substantially as described.

4:. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires, each having a break adjacent to a gas-jet, means for introducing each wire in succession into an electric circuit, and means for rapidly starting and stopping a number of times in succession an electric current in each circuit so formed, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires, each having a number of breaks adjacent to corresponding gas-jets, a drum and devices carried thereby for introducing each wire in succession into an electric circuit, means for rotating said drum, and devices carried by said drum and operating simultaneously with the closures of the said circuits to start and stop an electric current in the said circuit, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires, each having a number of breaks adjacent to corresponding gas-jets, a drum and devices carried thereby for introducing each wire in succession into an electric circuit, means for rotating said drum, and devices carried by said drum and operating simultaneously with the closures of the said circuits to rapidly start and stop an electric current a number of times in succession in the said circuit, substantially as described.

7 In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets. wires, each having a plurality of breaks therein, adjacent to corresponding gas-jets, a drum and means for revolving the same, a common electric circuit, means carried by said drum for introducing the wires in succession into said circuit, a vibrating contactmaker, means operated by the revolution of the drum at the time when each wire is so introduced to vibrate said contact-maker to make and break contact a number of times in succession, and means whereby the making and breaking of said contact starts and stops a current through said wire, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires, each having a number of breaks therein, adjacent to corresponding gas-jets, a corresponding number of contact-plates connected to said wires, a common contact-platc in an electric circuit, a drum, cams carried by said drum and arranged to make in succession contacts between the common contactplate and the series of plates, a mercury vessel in an electric circuit, a metallic needle vibrating into and out of contact with the mercury, means operated by the revolution of the drum during each of the periods of contact between the common contact-plate and the series of plates to vibrate said needle, and means whereby the making and breaking of the circuit by said needles starts and stops a current through the common contact-plate and the plate connected therewith, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets wires, each having a number of breaks therein, adjacent to corresponding gas-jets, a corresponding number of contact-plates connected to said wires, a common contact-plate in an electric circuit, a drum, cams carried by said drum and arranged to make in succession contacts between the common contactplate and the series of plates, a mercury vessel in an electric circuit, a metallic needle vibrating into and out of contact with the mercury, means operated by the revolution of the drum during each of the periods of contact between the common contact-plate and the series of plates to vibrate said needle, means whereby the making of the circuit by said needle starts and stops a current through the common contact-plate and the plate connected therewith, and a device for controlling the number of contacts with the mercury, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires each having a break adjacent to a corresponding gas-jet, means for introducing each wire in succession into an electric circuit, a driving mechanism for said introducing means, timing mechanism operated by the driving mechanism and arranged at suitable intervals to render said introducing mechanism operative and then inoperative, and means for starting and stopping an electric current in each circuit so formed, substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires each having a break adjacent to a corresponding gas-jet, means for introducing each wire in succession into an electric circuit, a driving mechanism for said introducing means, timing mechanism operated by the driving mechanism and arranged at suitable intervals to render said introducing mechanism operative and then inoperative, said. timing mechanism comprising a four-armed block and successively advancing pegs operating said arms to turn said block, and means operated by the movement of said block to permit or prevent the closure of a circuit, and means for starting and stopping an electric current in each circuit so formed, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires each having a break adjacent to a corresponding gas-jet, means for introducing each wire in succession into an electric circuit, a clockwork mechanism for driving said introducing means, a wheel driven by said clockwork mechanism and arranged to make a revolution in twenty-four hours, devices carried by said wheel arranged thereon at an adjustable interval, means for starting and stopping an electric current in each circuit so formed, and means operated by said devices in succession for rendering said starting and stopping means first operative and then inoperative, substantially as described.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires each having a break adjacent to a corresponding gas-jet, means for introducing each Wire in succession into an electric circuit, means for starting and stopping an electric current in each circuit so formed, and a tally-lamp in each circuit indicating by the 15. In an apparatus of the character de.

scribed, the combination of a plurality of gasjets, wires each having a break adjacent to a corresponding gas-jet, means for introducing each wire in succession into an electric circuit, means for starting and stopping an electric current in each circuit so formed and a row of indicating devices, one in each circuit indicating by the change of condition the passage of a current in each circuit, substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. DILHAN. E. DE MERSANNE. WVitnesses:

FRANCIS M. WVRIGHT, BEssIE GORFINKEL. 

